Lesser Known Parks of New York City

January 31, 2022
Flowers in park with New York Empire State Building view

Central Park is at the top of every New York tourist’s list, and probably closely followed by other iconic parks like Washington Square and the Chelsea Highline. Yet, there are so many other amazing green spaces that either provide respite from the city or boast fantastic views of it. Here are 5 of my favorites:

Domino Park

This 6-acre Brooklyn park is just across the East River and boasts fantastic views of the Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan skyline. Named for the old Domino sugar refinery that is still onsite, it is now a neighborhood gathering place, with a dog park, sand volleyball courts, and onsite taqueria. Follow the park’s event itinerary on instagram.

Pier 57 Rooftop Park

This is a new 2-acre public park on top of the Hudson River Pier with fantastic views of Little Island (one of NYC’s coolest parks) and New York Harbor. You can pack your own picnic and drink of choice to enjoy from the top, stop off at the nearby City Winery after taking in the views.

Louis Valentino, Jr. Park and Pier

This park is a bit of a haul from Manhattan, but a trip on the ferry to the Red Hook fishing village turned hipster community is always worth it in my book. Go on a clear day to watch a fiery sunset behind the Statue of Liberty while licking a frozen chocolate dipped key lime pie from Steve’s and you will feel like you’ve truly made it to the tip of the city.

Fort Washington Park

The further north you travel from Central Park, the more green space you will uncover, and this huge park is largely responsible for it. Fort Washington Park runs along the Hudson most known for its views of the George Washington Bridge, the Little Red Lighthouse, and proximity to the Washington Heights neighborhood, made famous by Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical. If you make it up, do not leave without eating Dominican or Caribbean food along Broadway.

WNYC Transmitter Park

As the name indicates, this Greenpoint park space used to house WNYC’s radio transmission towers and I love it with all my heart. Like so much that I almost don’t want to share it with you, but what kind of travel blogger would that make me? This is my favorite place in Brooklyn to watch a sunset, as a pedestrian bridge that juts out into the East river makes it feel as if you could just keep walking across the water to the Empire State Building. If you want to do it like the locals, grab a slice from Paulie Gee’s on your way.

The Best Summer Activities in Charleston, SC

The Best Summer Activities in Charleston, SC

There are so many ways to fill a perfect summer day in Charleston- even those of us who live here have a hard time fitting it all in! This list is a compilation of some popular local pastimes and favorite summer treats, all perfect ways to fill out that travel...

April in Paris

April in Paris

Five years ago today I ran the Paris marathon. In many ways, I still see April day as the culmination of my time living in Paris. Since I trained for the entire marathon while living there, it felt like a (very long) run through my backyard- a sweaty love letter to...

March in Paris

March in Paris

March- the month in Paris where some days feel like spring and others forecast snow. One of the best parts of this ambivalent weather is the fact that Parisians end up unsure of what each day’s appropriate head attire should be, thus upping my odds of a few non-ironic...

February in Paris

February in Paris

I love February in Paris, and it has nothing to do with the allegedly love-filled holiday that occurs half way through it. February is the month I decided Paris was home. Paris feels quiet in January, but tinged with a lackluster air of recovery. The holidays have...

January in Paris

January in Paris

It feels a little funny to start here, as January is the one month of the year I *might* try to dissuade you from booking a ticket to Paris. It's just so grey. Seriously, the January I lived in Paris I saw the sun a grand total of 3 times in January. No, I'm not...

A Paris Cafe for Every Type of Traveler

A Paris Cafe for Every Type of Traveler

“Bonjour. Un café, s’il vous plaît.” If there is a single phrase that a tourist in Paris should make sure to store in even the most jetlagged of brains, this just might be it. Coffee. Café. Espresso. Noisette. Café Crème. The French take their coffee breaks quite...

24 Hours in Sorrento, Italy

24 Hours in Sorrento, Italy

Perched on the cliffs along the Bay of Naples, Sorrento is a coastal town overlooking sparkling waters dotted by the islands of Ischia, Capri and Mt. Vesuvius. For many, Sorrento is seen as the gateway to Amalfi, and may just be a quick transfer along the way to...

A Guide to Rome’s Trastevere Neighborhood

A Guide to Rome’s Trastevere Neighborhood

Trastevere is my absolute favorite Roman neighborhood - full of winding cobblestone streets dripping with ivy, local trattorias, and some of the coolest bars the city has to offer. This historically working class neighborhood still holds on to its roots, with a...

How to Eat Like a Local in Italy by Region

How to Eat Like a Local in Italy by Region

Italians are incredibly proud of their local gastronomy- and rightfully so! Those of us coming to visit are generally ready to devour every pizza, pasta and tiramisu in sight. However, if you are a tourist looking to eat and live like the locals, you need to know what...